Nucleic acids conferring and inducible resistance to glycopeptides particularly in gram-positive bacteria

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a protein VanB involved, in Gram-positive bacteria, in resistance to glycopeptides, particularly to vancomycine, said resistance being of the type inducible by the vancomycine and non-inducible by teicoplanine. The invention also relates to the utilisation of fragments of nucleotides of the gene van B for the detection of resistances to glycopeptides.

This application is a continuation of Ser. No. 08/454,196, filed on Sep. 7, 1995, U.S. Pat. No. 5,770,361, which is a 371 of PCT/FR93/01264, filed on Dec. 17, 1993.

The invention relates to the polypeptides associated with the expression of a resistance to antibiotics of the glycopeptide family, this resistance being of a type inducible by vancomycin and not inducible by teicoplanin, particular in the Gram-positive bacteria, in particular in the family of the Gram-positive cocci. The invention also relates to a nucleotide sequence coding for these polypeptides. It also relates to the use of these polypeptides and their nucleotide sequence as agents for the in vitro detection of resistance to glycopeptides. Among the Gram-positive cocci, the invention relates more particularly to the enterococci, the streptococci and the staphylococci.

The glycopeptides, which include vancomycin and teicoplanin, are antibiotic inhibitors of the synthesis of the bacterial cell wall. These antibiotics are very much used for the treatment of severe infections due to Gram-positive cocci (enterococci, streptococci and staphylococci) in particular in cases of allergy and resistance to the penicillins.

Up to 1986 vancomycin proved to be efficacious against almost all strains of enterococci.

The activity of the glycopeptides depends on the formation of a complex between the antibiotic and the peptidoglycan precursors more than on their direct interaction with enzymes of cell wall metabolism. In particular, it has been observed that the glycopeptides bind to the terminal D-alanyl-D-alanine (D-ala-D-ala) residues of the peptidoglycan precursors.

Several phenotypes of resistance to the glycopeptides have been demonstrated; in particular, strains resistant to a high level of glycopeptides and strains resistant to low concentration levels.

By strain resistant to a high level is meant a strain of bacteria, in particular a strain of Gram-positive cocci, for which the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of vancomycin and teicoplanin are higher than 32 and 8 μg/ml, respectively. The MIC of vancomycin towards strains with low-level resistance are included between 8 and 32 μg/ml. The VanB phenotype is characterized by a resistance inducible by vancomycin but not inducible by teicoplanin. Once induced, this resistance may exist against different glycopeptides, in particular against vancomycin and/or teicoplanin, and at variable levels.

The strains of enterococci corresponding to the VanB phenotype (class B) are in particular strains of E. faecalis and E. faecium.

Al-Obeid S et al. (FEMS Microbiology Letters 70 (1990) 101-106) have thus compared the resistance proteins to glycopeptides, inducible by vancomycin, in four strains of Enterococci, and have deduced from their comparison the existence of three types of proteins, one of these types being present in the E. faecium strain resistant to low levels of vancomycin. According to the authors of this publication, a protein of molecular weight of about 39.5 kDa is induced in the strains with low-level resistance and this resistance is linked to induction by vancomycin. These strains were also reported to exhibit a resistance to teicoplanin, also induced by vancomycin.

According to Al-Obeid et al., this protein of 39.5 kDa is present in multiple forms but the nature of this multiplicity has not been studied. According to these authors there might exist a structural specificity depending on the species of bacteria concerned and the level of resistance which needs to be confirmed.

In this publication Al-Obeid et al. described 11 amino acids of the N-terminal sequence of the protein of 39.5 kDa and observed that this sequence exhibited about 70% homology with many membrane proteins of prokaryotic or eukaryotic origin having diverse functions. According to the authors this comparison did not allow the possible function of the protein to be established. Finally, Al-Obeid et al. noticed that other proteins are induced, although to a lesser degree.

The invention relates to peptides, polypeptides or proteins implicated in the expression of a resistance to antibiotics of the glycopeptide family and in particular to vancomycin and/or teicoplanin as well as nucleotide sequences coding for such polypeptides. The resistance in question above is of a type inducible by vancomycin but not by teicoplanin.

The expressions "implicated in the expression of a resistance" or "implicated in a resistance" signify that the protein of the invention is necessary in order for the resistance to be manifest.

The invention also relates to nucleotide probes utilizable for the detection of a resistance to the glycopeptides, in particular by means of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), or by assays involving antibodies.

Thus, the object of the invention is a VanB protein characterized in that it comprises the following amino acid sequence I, and in that it participates in the resistance to glycopeptides, in particular to vancomycin, this resistance being of a type inducible by vancomycin and not by teicoplanin in Gram-positive bacteria (SEQ ID NO: 2).

    (I)                                                                              -                                                                              M N K I K V A I I F G G C S E E H D V S V K S A I E                             - I A A N I N T E K F D P H Y I G I T K N G V W K L C                          - K K P C T E W E A D S L P A I F S P D R K T H G L L                          - V M K E R E Y E T R R I D V A F P V L H G K C G E D                          - G A I Q G L F E L S G I P Y V G C D I Q S S A A C M                          - D K S L A Y I L T K N A G I A V P E F Q M I E K G D                          - K P E A R T L T Y P V F V K P A R S G S S F G V T K                          - V N S T E E L N A A I E A A G Q Y D G K I L I E Q A                          - I S G C E V G C A V M G N E D D L I V G E V D Q I R                          - L S H G I F R I H Q E N E P E K G S E N A M I I V P                          - A D I P V E E R N R V Q E T A K K V Y R V L G C R G                          - L A R V D L F L Q E D G G I V L N E V N T L P G F T                          - S Y S R Y P R M A A A A G I T L P A L I D S L I T L                          - A I E R                                                              

By the expression "inducible resistance" is meant the capacity of a specific Gram-positive bacterium, in particular of a specific Enterococcus strain, to produce a VanB protein in the presence of a concentration of 0.05 to 1μl/ml of vancomycin.

The resistance to one or more defined glycopeptides may result in the persistence of an infection due to microbes usually sensitive to the glycopeptides, or may be detected by means of an antibiogram (particularly for high levels of resistance), the MIC, hybridization with probes (after amplification by the PCR, for example).

According to a first embodiment of the invention, the VanB protein is characterized in that it is implicated in an inducible resistance to glycopeptides, and in particular to vancomycin, in enterococci and for example in strains of the genus E. faecium or E. faecalis.

The invention also relates to a VanB protein characterized in that it comprises an amino acid sequence modified with respect to sequence I by deletion, insertion, or replacement of one or more amino acids, provided that the VanB protein thus modified is implicated in Gram-positive bacteria in a resistance to glycopeptides, in particular to vancomycin, this resistance being of a type inducible by vancomycin, but not inducible by teicoplanin.

Also included in the framework of the invention is any peptide fragment of the VanB protein characterized in that it corresponds to the amino acid sequence I or any part of this sequence functionally associated with the inducible resistance to glycopeptides, in particular to vancomycin, in Gram-positive bacteria, for example bacteria of the family of the enterococci.

Advantageously peptide fragments of the invention exhibit additionally or alternatively antigenic properties and are hence recognized by antibodies formed against the VanB protein.

A particular fragment of sequence I corresponds for example to the following sequence or includes this sequence (residues 110-305 of SEQ ID NO: 2).

    L F E L S G I P Y V G C D I Q S S A A C M D K S L A                               - Y I L T K N A G I A V P E F Q M I E K G D K P E A R                          - T L T Y P V F V K P A R S G S S F G V T K V N S T E                          - E L N A A I E A A G Q Y D G K I L I E Q A I S G C E                          - V G C A V M G N E D D L I V G E V D Q I R L S H G I                          - F R I H Q E N E P E K G S E N A M I I V P A D I P V                          - E E R N R V Q E T A K K V Y R V L G C R G L A R V D                          - L F L Q E D G G I V L N E V                                          

According to another embodiment of the invention, these antigens are specific for the VanB protein and thus not recognized by antibodies recognizing the VanA and VanC proteins such as described in the patent application EP 91920753.

In addition the invention relates to a nucleotide sequence characterized in that it codes for a VanB protein implicated in resistance to glycopeptides, in particular to vancomycin, in Gram-positive bacteria, this resistance being of a type inducible by vancomycin but not inducible by teicoplanin, said VanB protein comprising the amino acid sequence I, or in that it is a DNA sequence complementary to this coding sequence, or a corresponding RNA sequence.

By complementary sequence is meant any DNA sequence whose nucleotides are complementary to those of sequence I and whose orientation is reversed.

A particular nucleotide sequence corresponding to this definition is characterized in that it comprises the following nucleotide sequence II or a nucleotide sequence modified with respect to II provided that it codes for a protein implicated in resistance to glycopeptides, in particular to vancomycin, in Gram-positive bacteria, this resistance being of a type inducible by vancomycin but not inducible by teicoplanin (SEQ ID NO: 1).

    (II)                                                                             GAGCGTGTGCTGCGAGATACCACAGAAAACAATCAGAATTGTCTTAACTTT                             - GAAAGGAGTTTACAGCATGAATAAAATAAAAGTCGCAATTATCTTCGGCGG                          - TTGCTCGGAGGAACATGATGTGTCGGTAAAATCCGCAATAGAAATTGCTGC                          - GAACATTAATACTGAAAAATTCGATCCGCACTACATCGGAATTACAAAAAA                          - CGGCGTATGGAAGCTATGCAAGAAGCCATGTACGGAATGGGAAGCCGATAG                          - TCTCCCCGCCATATTCTCCCCGGATAGGAAAACGCATGGTCTGCTTGTCAT                          - GAAAGAAAGAGAATACGAAACTCGGCGTATTGACGTGGCTTTCCCGGTTTT                          - GCATGGCAAATGCGGGGAGGATGGTGCGATACAGGGTCTGTTTGAATTGTC                          - TGGTATCCCCTATGTAGGCTGCGATATTCAAAGCTCCGCAGCTTGCATGGA                          - CAAATCACTGGCCTACATTCTTACAAAAAATGCGGGCATCGCCGTCCCCGA                          - ATTTCAAATGATTGAAAAAGGTGACAAACCGGAGGCGAGGACGCTTACCTA                          - CCCTGTCTTTGTGAAGCCGGCACGGTCAGGTTCGTCCTTTGGCGTAACCAA                          - AGTAAACAGTACGGAAGAACTAAACGCTGCGATAGAAGCAGCAGGACAATA                          - TGATGGAAAAATCTTAATTGAGCAAGCGATTTCGGGCTGTGAGGTCGGCTG                          - CGCGGTCATGGGAAACGAGGATGATTTGATTGTCGGCGAAGTGGATCAAAT                          - CCGGTTGAGCCACGGTATCTTCCGCATCCATCAGGAAAACGAGCCGGAAAA                          - AGGCTCAGAGAATGCGATGATTATCGTTCCAGCAGACATTCCGGTCGAGGA                          - ACGAAATCGGGTGCAAGAAACGGCAAAGAAAGTATATCGGGTGCTTGGATG                          - CAGAGGGCTTGCTCGTGTTGATCTTTTTTTGCAGGAGGATGGCGGCATCGT                          - TCTAAACGAGGTCCAATACCCTGCCCGGTTTTACATCGTACAGCCGCTATC                          - CACGCATGGCGGCTGCCGCAGGAATCACGCTTCCCGCACTAATTGACAGCC                          - TGATTACATTGGCGATAGAGAGGTGACCCGTATGGAAAATGGTTTTTTGT                           - TTTTTAGATGAAATGTTGCA                                                 

Generally speaking the object of the invention is also a nucleotide fragment characterized in that it is capable of hybridizing under stringent conditions with a sequence such as defined in sequence II above.

The stringent conditions are the following:

reaction temperature of 65° C. overnight in a solution containing 0.1% SDS, 0.7% skimmed milk powder, 6×SSC (1×SSC=0.15M NaCl and 0.015M sodium citrate at pH=7.0)

washes at room temperature in 2×SSC-0.1% SDS, then at 65° C. in 0.2 SSC-0.1% SDS.

Advantageously a nucleotide fragment corresponding to the previous definition will have at least 15 nucleotides, and preferably at least 20.

For this purpose a particular nucleotide sequence comprises the following sequence (SEQ ID NO: 3).

            TCTGTTTGAATTGTCTGGTATCCCCTATGTAGGCTGCGATATT                               - CAAAGCTCCGCAGCTTGCATGGACAAATCACTGGCCTACATTCTTACAAAA                          - AATGCGGGCATCGCCGTCCCCGAATTTCAAATGATTGAAAAAGGTGACAAA                          - CCGGAGGCGAGGACGCTTACCTACCCTGTCTTTGTGAAGCCGGCACGGTCA                          - GGTTCGTCCTTTGGCGTAACCAAAGTAAACAGTACGGAAGAACTAAACGCT                          - GCGATAGAAGCAGCAGGACAATATGATGGAAAAATCTTAATTGAGCAAGCG                          - ATTTCGGGCTGTGAGGTCGGCTGCGCGGTCATGGGAAACGAGGATGATTTG                          - ATTGTCGGCGAAGTGGATCAAATCCGGTTGAGCCACGGTATCTTCCGCATC                          - CATCAGGAAAACGAGCCGGAAAAAGGCTCAGAGAATGCGATGATTATCGTT                          - CCAGCAGACATTCCGGTCGAGGAACGAAATCGGGTGCAAGAAACGGCAAAG                          - AAAGTATATCGGGTGCTTGGATGCAGAGGGCTTGCTCGTGTTGATCTTTTT                          - TTGCAGGAGGATGGCGGCATCGTTCTAAACGAGGTC                                 

The peptides and polypeptides of the invention make it possible to define a genotypic class, characterized by the capacity of the nucleotide sequences coding for these peptides to hybridize under stringent conditions with the sequance II constituting a probe.

These fragments may be used as primers for carrying out amplification reactions, or as probes.

Particularly valuable probes correspond to the following sequences (SEQ ID NO: 4-5):

primer 1:5' ATGGGAAGCCGATAGTC 3', (positions 241-258 of nucleotides of sequence I)

primer 2:5' GATTTCGTTCCTCGACC 3' (complementary reverse sequence of the nucleotide fragment 860-877 of sequence I).

Nucleotide probes according to the invention may be specific for the detection in Gram-positive bacteria of sequences coding for a VanB protein implicated in the resistance to glycopeptides, in particular to vancomycin and/or teicoplanin, this resistance being inducible in conformity with the previous definition, these probes being in addition universal among these sequences.

By probes specific for VanB is meant any oligonucleotide hybridizing with a nucleotide sequence coding for a VanB protein according to the invention as described in the preceding pages, and not exhibiting cross-hybridization or amplification (PCR) reactions with sequences present in all of the sensitive strains.

A particular nucleotide fragment according to the invention is characterized in that it does not hybridize under stringent conditions with the DNA of strains of enterococci sensitive to vancomycin, in particular with the DNA of the strains E. faecalis JH2-2 and E. faecium BM4107.

These reference strains have been described by Jacobs and Hobbs (J. Bacteriol. 117 1974, 360-372) and Leclercq et al. (Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 33 1989), respectively.

Another useful nucleotide fragment in the framework of the invention is specific for the vanB gene to the extent that it does not hybridize under stringent conditions with the vanA and vanC genes as described in the PCT application 91920753.

A particularly useful nucleotide fragment in the framework of the invention is the fragment corresponding to sequence II.

This fragment is an internal fragment derived from the gene implicated in the resistance to strains of enterococci. The resistance may exist at variable concentration levels of glycopeptides.

The invention also relates to nucleotide fragments modified with respect to the foregoing by mutation, addition or deletion of nucleotides, provided that the fragment thus modified either codes for a fragment of the functional VanB protein as regards its property of the resistance to glycopeptides, in particular to vancomycin, under conditions described above, or hybridizes with the vanB gene.

Should the nucleotide fragments be used as probes, labelling is performed by the standard techniques. As examples, radioactive or enzymatic markers should be used.

Nucleotide fragments according to the invention may be used as primers to carry out the amplification of the nucleic acid contained in a given biological sample, for example by PCR.

Moreover, the invention relates to a recombinant DNA sequence characterized in that it comprises a nucleotide sequence described above under the control of regulatory elements likely to be involved in the cloning and expression of a gene implicated in a resistance, of a type inducible by vancomycin and not inducible by teicoplanin, to antibiotics of the glycopeptide family, in particular vancomycin, in a defined host.

This gene implicated in the resistance is for example the vanB gene which comprises the nucleotide sequence II or any functional part in terms of inducible resistance derived from a sequence hybridizing with sequence II.

The invention also relates to a recombinant vector for the cloning and expression, characterized in that it comprises a nucleotide sequence described above at a site inessential for its replication, optionally under the control of regulatory elements likely to be involved in the expression of a resistance, of a type inducible by vancomycin and not by teicoplanin, to antibiotics of the glycopeptide family, in particular vancomycin, in a defined host.

Particular vectors are for example plasmids, phages, cosmids, YACs.

A preferred vector is the plasmid pAT201 deposited with the C.N.C.M. on Dec. 11, 1992 under the number I-1277.

Another preferred vector is the plasmid pAT202 formed from the plasmid pUC19Ω containing a 3.3 kb fragment containing the vanB gene of Enterococus faecalis V583 (HindIII/KpnI).

pAT202 was introduced into E. coli JM83 and deposited with the C.N.C.M. on Mar. 29, 1993 under the number I-1291 (identification E. coli BM2973).

These vectors may be used to transform or transfect cell hosts in order to clone or express the nucleotide sequences of the invention.

A recombinant cell host according to the invention is characterized in that it is modified by a nucleotide sequence or a vector described above.

The cell host is preferably modified by this sequence under conditions permitting the expression of a functional VanB protein as regards inducible resistance to glycopeptides.

The object of the invention is also a recombinant VanB protein such as obtained from a recombinant cell host according to the previous definition, the VanB protein obtained being characterized in that its peptide skeleton comprises the above amino acid sequence, and in that it is implicated in a resistance to glycopeptides, in particular to vancomycin, in Gram-positive bacteria, this resistance being of a type inducible by vancomycin but not inducible by teicoplanin.

The VanB protein according to the invention makes it possible to prepare monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies characterized in that they recognize specifically the VanB protein or a peptide fragment described above.

These antibodies may be obtained according to the standard methods for the production of antibodies. In particular for the preparation of the monoclonal antibodies recourse should be had to the method of Kohler and Milstein according to which monoclonal antibodies are prepared by cell fusion between myeloma cells and spleen cells of mice previously immunized with a polypeptide or a composition according to the invention, in conformity with the standard procedure.

The antibodies of the invention can advantageously be used for the detection of the presence of proteins characteristic of a resistance to the glycopeptides, in particular to vancomycin and teicoplanin, this resistance being of the type inducible by vancomycin but not inducible by teicoplanin.

Also included in the framework of the invention is a kit for the in vitro diagnosis in a biological sample of the presence of strains resistant to glycopeptides after induction, in particular by vancomycin but not by teicoplanin, these strains belonging in particular to the Gram-positive cocci, in particular in that they are strains of enterococci, for example E. faecium, characterized in that it contains:

optionally labelled antibodies described above,

a reagent for the detection of an inmmunological reaction of the antigen-antibody type,

optionally, reagents for lysing the cells of the tested sample,

optionally, a defined concentration of vancomycin to induce resistance.

The invention also relates to a kit such as that defined above which contains in addition antibodies specifically directed against the VanA protein and/or antibodies specifically directed against the VanC protein.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the kit enables resistance corresponding to a phenotype VanA, VanB or VanC to be detected indiscriminately and contains antibodies recognizing VanA, VanB and VanC. These antibodies may be selected by their capacity to recognize an epitope common to the three proteins. It may also be a mixture of antibodies recognizing different epitopes, specific to each of the proteins.

According to another embodiment of the invention, a kit for the in vitro diagnosis of the presence of strains resistant to low levels of glycopeptides, resistant in particular to vancomycin, is characterized in that it contains:

a nucleotide probe capable of hybridizing under stringent conditions with a nucleotide sequence of the vanB gene, and optionally,

nucleoside triphosphates dATP, dCTP, dTTP, dGTP,

a DNA polymerase.

Another detection kit contains in addition nucleotides capable of hybridizing specifically with the vanA gene and a probe capable of hybridizing specifically with the vanC gene.

This kit may be advantageously used for the detection of a resistance in Gram-positive cocci, in particular in enterococci, for example in E. faecium.

The invention also relates to a kit for the in vitro detection of a resistance to glycopeptides, in particular to vancomycin, this resistance corresponding to one of the phenotypes VanA, VanB or VanC, the kit containing:

a nucleotide probe hybridizing with the genes vanA, vanB and vanC,

nucleoside triphosphates dATP, dCTP, dTTP and dGTP,

a DNA polymerase.

The invention also relates to a procedure for the in vitro detection of the presence of strains resistant to glycopeptides, in particular to vancomycin and/or teicoplanin, these strains belonging in particular to the family of the Gram-positive cocci, in particular in that they are strains of enterococci, for example E. faecium or E. faecalis, characterized in that it comprises:

a) the placing of a biological sample likely to contain the resistant strains in contact with a primer constituted by a nucleotide fragment according to the invention such as that described above, capable of hybridizing with the nucleotide sequence under investigation and implicated in the expression of the resistance, this sequence being used as matrix in the presence of the 4 different nucleoside phosphates and a polymerase under conditions of hybridization such that for each nucleotide sequence having hybridized with a primer, an elongation product of each primer complementary to the matrix is synthesized,

b) the separation of the matrix from the elongation product obtained, this latter being then also able to behave as a matrix,

c) repetition of step a) so as to obtain a detectable quantity of the nucleotide sequences investigated,

d) the detection of the amplification product of the nucleotide sequences.

The probe used may thus be specific for the nucleotide sequence II or a sequence hybridizing with sequence II under stringent conditions. Under these conditions the procedure according to the invention makes possible the detection of a resistance to glycopeptides, this resistance being inducible by vancomycin but not inducible by teicoplanin.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, this procedure also comprises the placing of the biological sample in contact with a specific nucleotide fragment of the vanA gene and/or a specific nucleotide fragment of the vanC gene. In this case the procedure according to the invention advantageously makes possible the detection of different phenotypes of resistance.

According to another embodiment, a resistance corresponding to a phenotype VanA, VanB or VanC will de detected indiscriminately by using a probe common to the genes vanA, vanB or vanC. Such a probe may be constructed from the aligned polypeptide sequences of FIG. 2.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the following Examples and Figures:

FIGURES

FIG. 1

Nucleotide and amino acid sequences corresponding to the vanB gene (SEQ ID NO: 1-2). The nucleotide sequences of the two strands was determined from the insert contained in pUC18 by the dideoxy chain termination method (Sanger et al., 1977, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 74:5463-5467) using T7 DNA polymerase. The RBS sequence underlined represents the Shine-Dalgarno sequence for ribosome binding.

FIG. 2

Alignment of the deduced amino acid sequence of the VanB protein and corresponding regions of VanA, VanC, DdLA and DdLB of E. coli (Dutka-Malen et al., 1992 Gene, 112:53-58), Ddl of E. faecalis V583 and DdlA of S. typhimurium (Daub et al., Biochemistry 27, 1988, 3701-3708) (SEQ ID NO: 2, 6-11). The identical amino acids (I) and the conservative substitutions (C) in the 7 sequences have been indicated beneath the alignment. In order to permit the classification of conservative substitutions, the amino acids have been regrouped as follows: RK, LFPMVI, STQNC, AGW, H, ED and Y. The domains 1, 2, 3 and 4 correspond to regions of high homology.

FIG. 3

Oligonucleotides V1 and V2 used to amplify the DNA of the vanB gene (SEQ ID NO: 12-15).

FIG. 4

Nucleotide sequence of the ddl gene of E. faecalis V583 and the corresponding amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 16-19). The plasmid pAT203 was constructed by subcloning the DNA of λ recombinant bacteriophage partially digested with Sau3AI (Pharmacia) in pUC19 digested with BamHI (Pharmacia). The 15 kb insert of pAT203 contains the ddl gene. The nucleotide sequence of 1079 consecutive bp of pAT203 was determined on both strands by the dideoxy chain termination method. The first base pair of the sequence is defined as position 1. The ribsosme binding sequence RBS is at position 19 upstream from the start codon TTG. The stop codon TTA is indicated. The deduced amino acid sequence of the Ddl protein is shown.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

The antibiotics of the glycopeptide family such as vancomycin (Vm) and teicoplanin (Te) bind to the C-terminal D-Ala residues of the peptidoglycan precursors, thus blocking their incorporation into the bacterial cell wall (Reynolds, P. E. 1989 Eur. J. Clin. Microb. Infect. Dis. 8:943-950). The D-Ala residues are incorporated into the precursors of the cell wall in the form of dipeptides synthesized by D-Ala:D-ala ligases (DDL) (Walsh, C. T. 1989 J. Biol. Chem. 264:2393-2396). The VanA ligase synthesizes the dipeptide D-Ala-D-lac which substitutes for D-Ala-D-Ala leading to the synthesis of precursors which bind vancomycin with reduced affinity (Bugg et al., Biochemistry 30:10408-10415 (1991), Handwerger et al., J. Bacteriol. 174:5982-5984 (1992), Messer et Reynolds, FEMS Microbiol. Letters 94:195-200 (1992)).

The resistance to the glycopeptides in the enterococci is heterogeneous (Dutka-Male et al., 1990 Antimicrobiol Agents Chemother. 34:1875-1879).

The resistance proteins VanA and VanC (see patent application EP 91920753.0 of Oct. 29, 1991) show a 30 to 37% homology (the details are given in Table III) with the amino acids of the D-Ala: D-Ala ligases (Ala=alanine) of E. coli (Dutka-Malen et al., 1992 Gene 112:53-58). The structural genes for the VanA and VanC proteins do not hybridize with the DNA of the strains with the VanB phenotype (Dutka-Malen et al., 1990, Leclercq et al., Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 36:2005-2008 (1992)).

The inventors have succeeded in identifying the nucleotide sequence implicated in the properties of resistance to vancomycin of strains of enterococci having the VanB phenotype and resistant after induction with vancomycin.

Bacterial strains: 39 isolates of E. faecium (28 strains) and E. faecalis (11 strains) resistant to low and high concentrations of vancomycin and sensitive to teicoplanin were studied (Table II). Among these strains 24 isolates including E. faecalis V583 (Sahm D. et al., Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 1989, 33:1588-91) and E. faecium D366 (Gutmann L. et al., Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 1992, 36:77-80) were resistant to low concentrations of vancomycin on the basis of a disk sensitivity test. These strains belong to the class B phenotype. 15 isolates resistant to high concentrations of vancomycin (MIC≧128 μg/ml) including E. faecalis strain V583-2 (Zarlenga L. J. et al., Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 1992, 36:902-5), which is a spontaneous mutant of V553 as well as UMH-1 (Schwalbe R. et al., Abstract A-117, in Abstracts of the 91st General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology, Dallas, Tex.: American Society for Microbiology, 1991) were also studied. The control strains were well-characterized strains of enterococci belonging to the phenotypes A and C and hybridizing with the probes VanA and VanC, respectively. In particular there are 6 clinical isolates of E. faecium highly resistant to vancomycin and to teicoplanin, including BM4147. The strains of E. gallinarum including BM4147 belonging to class C were also used as controls. Strains of E. casseliflavus are also used as controls, including the strain ATCC 25788, which are isolates intrinsically resistant to low levels of vancomycin and sensitive to teicoplanin (Leclercq R. et al., Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 1992, 36:2005-8).

The following strains were also studied: Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae A124 (Institute Pasteur collection), Lactobacillus brevis ATCC 14869, Lactobacillus casei ATCC 393, Lactobacillus confusus ATCC 10881, Lactobacillus fermentum ATCC 9338, Lactobacillus plantarum ATCC 8014, Lactobacillus reuteri ATCC 23272, Lactobacillus rhamnosus ATCC 7469, Lactobacillus salivarius ATCC 11741, Pediococcus acidilacti ATCC 8042, Pediococcus pentosaceus ATCC 33316, and Leuconostoc mesenteroides CIP 16407. The following enterococci sensitive to antibiotics of the glycopeptide family are used as negative controls: E. durans ATCC 19432, E. faecium ATCC 19434, BM4107 (Leclercq R et al., Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1992, 36:2005-8), and MT10R (Gutmann L et al., Antimicrob. Agents Chemother., 1992, 36:77-80), strain sensitive to vancomycin derived from D366; E. faecalis ATCC 29212, ATCC 33186, JH2-2 (Leclercq R et al., Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 1992, 36:2005-8) and V583-C1, strain sensitive to vancomycin derived from V583 (Table II) and a clinical isolate of E. faecium and E. faecalis. Characteristics of reference strains are depicted in Table I. E. faecium BM4107 and E. faecalis JH2-2, resistant to both rifampin and fusidic acid (Leclercq R et al., Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 1992, 36:2005-8) were used as receptor strains for conjugation experiments.

Identification of the Enterococci

The enterococci were identified by the method of Facklam and Collins, J. Clin. Microbiol. 1989, 27:731-4). The identification of the species was based on the tests of potassium tellurite reduction and the production of acids from carbohydrates on bands of API 20 streptococci (bioMerieux, Marcy l' Etoile, France). The tests of mobility at 30° C. and fermentation of carbohydrates were used to distinguish E. gallinarum and E. casseliflavus from E. faecium and E. faecalis. The strains of E. casseliflavus were distinguished from the strains of E. gallinarum on the basis of the production of a yellow pigment on the agar.

Medium

A brain-heart medium and agar (Difco Laboratories, Detroit, Mich.) were used. Sensitivity tests were performed on Mueller-Hinton agar (Diagnostics Pasteur, Marne LaCoquette, France). All of the incubations were performed at 37° C.

Determination of the In Vitro Sensitivity to the Antibiotics.

The disk diffusion test with disks containing 30 μg of vancomycin or 30 μg of teicoplanin (Diagnostics Pasteur) was used for the initial screening. The method of Steers et al. with 10⁴ CFU per spot was used to determine the MIC of the antibiotics (Steers E. et al., Antibiot. Chemother. (Basel) 1959, 9:307-11)

Transfer of the Character of Resistance to an Antibiotic

The conjugation on filters was carried out according to the procedure described by Dutka-Malen S. et al., Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 1990, 34:1875-9. The antibiotic concentrations for the selection of the transconjugates were the following: rifampin: 20 μg/ml; fusidic acid: 10 μg/ml and vancomycin: 4 and 8 μg/ml.

Enzymes and Reagents

Lysozyme was obtained from the Sigma Chemical Co.(St. Louis, Mo.). RNase A (bovine pancreas) and proteinase K were obtained from Calbiochem. Co.(San Diego, Calif.). {α-³² P} dCTP and the triethylammonium salt (specific activity 3000 CI/mmol) were obtained from the Radiochemical Center, Amersham, Great Britain. Teicoplanin was obtained from Gruppo Lepetit (Milan, Italy) and vancomycin was obtained from Eli Lilly & Co (Indianapolis, Ind.).

The oligonucleotides V1 and V2 described in the patent application EP 91920753.0 made possible the amplification by means of the PCR technique of fragments internal to the genes coding for the proteins VanA, VanC and D-Ala: D-Ala ligases (Dutka-Malen et al., 1992 Gene 112:53-58).

The amplification of the vanB gene was carried out with the oligonucleotides V1 and V2 and the DNA (20 ng) of Enterococcus faecalis V583 (Sahm et al., 1989 Antimicrob. Agents Chemother.33:1588-1591).

To carry out this amplification the technique described in the publication of Dutka-Malen et al., 1992 was used. The fragments obtained were separated on agarose gel (1%) in a TAE buffer which made it possible to reveal a unique band of about 600 bp which was extracted from the gel using a DNA purification kit (GeneClean, Bio101 Inc., La Jolla, Calif.). By using a kit leading to the production of blunt ends on the DNA (Amersham, Amersham, Great Britain), the fragments were treated with the T4 DNA polymerase and ligated at the SmaI site of a digested and dephosphorylated pUC18 plasmid (Norrander et al., 1983, Gene 26:101-106).

The sequence of 632 bp (vanB probe) corresponding to the insert of the recombinant plasmid (FIG. 1) was determined by the dideoxy chain termination method (Sanger et al., 1977, Proc. Natl. ACad. Sci. USA, 74:5463-5467) using T7 DNA polymerase (Pharmacia, Uppsala, Sweden) and {α-³⁵ S} dATP (Amersham Radiochemical Center, Amersham Great Britain).

Given that the amplification with the Taq DNA polymerase may lead to erroneous incorporations of nucleotides, the sequence was confirmed as follows: an oligonucleotide complementary to the positions 513 to 530 of the nucleotide sequence shown in FIG. 1 was synthesized by the phosphoramidite method (Organic Chemistry unit, Pasteur Institute, France) and used with the primer V1 to carry out an amplification of a vanB fragment by PCR. The PCR product was sequenced directly (Mabilat et al., 1990, Plasmid 23:27-34) or after the cloning in a pUC18 vector in order to reveal the identity of the nucleotides with the cloned fragment obtained with V1 and V2.

A Southern hybridization was carried out according to the method of Johnson et al., Gene Anal. Technol. 1:3-8 (1984). The total DNA of the strains of enterococci (Table 1) was prepared according to the procedure described by Le Bouguenec et al., 1990, J. Bacteriol. 172:727-734, digested with the enzymes HindIII and KpnI (United States Biochemical corporation, Cleveland, Ohio) and resolved on 1% agarose gels. The DNA was transferred to nylon membranes (Nytran, Schleicher & Schuell, Dassel, Germany) with a transfer apparatus under vacuum (Trans. Vac. TE80, Hoefer Scientific Instruments, San Francisco, Calif.). The probe was obtained by labelling the cloned PCR fragment with a nick translation kit (Bethesda Research Laboratories Life Technologies Inc., Gaithersburg, Md.) and {α-³² P} dCTP (Amersham Radiochemical Center, Amersham, Great Britain). The hybridization was carried out under stringent conditions at 68° C. (Johnson et al., 1984, Gene Anal. Technol. 1:3-8). The membranes were washed at 65° C. in 0.1% SDS-2×SSC.

The vanA probe consisted of a PstI fragment of 265 bp internal to the vanA gene (Dukta-Malen S et al., Mol. Gen. Genet. 1990, 224:364-372). The vanC probe consisted of a EcoRI-HincII fragment of 690 bp internal to the vanC gene (Leclercq R et al., Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 1992, 36:2005-8. Dukta-Malen S. et al. Gene, 1992, 112:53-58). The vanB probe corresponds to the sequence II.

The amino acid sequence deduced for the insert contained in the pUC18 plasmid was compared with different protein sequences (FIG. 2): Table 5 summarises the identity percentages of amino acids when the protein sequences VanB, VanA, VanC, ElDdl, DdlA and DdlB are compared pairwise.

Under the conditions of Southern hybridization the cloned fragment hybridized with the 3.3 kb HindIII-KpnI fragment of E. faecalis V583. The probe does not hybridize with the DNA of a vancomycin-sensitive derivative of V583 or with the DNA of the E. faecalis and E. faecium strains sensitive to vancomycin used as reference. The cloned DNA fragment obtained by PCR corresponds to an internal fragment of the gene implicated in the resistance. This gene codes for the enzyme related to the D-Ala: D-Ala ligases, called VanB, which might be implicated in the synthesis of a product substituting for D-Ala-D-Ala.

These tests have made it possible to demonstrate a single group of genes related to vanB and responsible for a low- and high-level resistance to vancomycin in the enterococci (Tables 1 and 2).

No hybridization was observed between the VanB probe and the DNA of strains sensitive to vancomycin without induction or bearing the vanA or vanC genes or intrinsically resistant.

The complete sequence of the vanB gene was cloned by implementing the following steps:

The plasmid pAT202 was obtained by subcloning in pUC19 a 3.3 kb HindIII-KpnI fragment of the λ recombinant bacteriophage containing the vanB gene The cloning was performed with restriction endonucleases (Boehringer, Mannheim, Germany and Pharmacia LKB Biotechnology Inc. Uppsala, Sweden), T4 DNA ligase (Boehringer) and alkaline phosphatase (Pharmacia) in conformity with the recommendations of the manufacturer. The nucleotide sequence of the consecutive 1090 bp of pAT202 was determined on both strands by the dideoxy chain termination method (Sanger et al., 1977) using a modified T7 DNA polymerase (Amersham Radiochemical Center, Amersham, Great Britain) and complementary oligonucleotides of the sequence, synthesized by the methoxy phosphoramidite method (Institute Pasteur, Paris, France). The reaction products were resolved by electrophoresis on a 6% denaturing polyacrylamide gel. The first base pair of the sequence shown corresponds to position 1 (FIG. 1). The potential ribosome binding site (RBS) (Moran et al., Mol. Gen. Genet. 186 (1982) 339-346) upstream from the ATG initiation codon at position 46 is underlined. The stop codon (TGA) is indicated by an asterisk. The amino acid sequence is aligned with the first nucleotide of each codon.

The transfer of the vancomycin-resistance character (in 6 isolates of enterococci out of 17) by conjugation on a filter was observed in E. faecium and E. faecalis strains resistant to low or high concentrations of antibiotics.

Of the other fragments of about 600 bp amplified from the oligonucleotides V1 and V2, an insert hybridized with the DNA of Vm^(R) or Vm^(S) strains of E. faecalis but not with the DNA of strains of 18 other species. This gene codes for a D-Ala: D-ala ligase in E. faecalis. Since no other ligase gene was detected in E. faecalis, this gene was called ddl.

The cloning and sequencing of the ddl gene inserted in the pUC19 vector (Norrander et al., Gene 26, 1983, 101-106) led to the observation that the content of the bases G and C in ddl (37.5%) and the chromosome of E. faecalis (37-39%) were very similar.

Different observations suggest that the vanB gene might have an exogenous origin: (i) The gene may be transferred by conjugation. (ii) The nucleotide sequences related to vanB have not been detected in the DNA of Vm^(S) strains of E. faecalis and E. faecium and the representatives of 16 other species of Enterococcus (Table III). (iii) The GC base content of the vanB gene differs markedly from that of the chromosome of E. faecalis. (iv) The low level of similarity between Ddl of E. faecalis and VanB (34% identity) indicates that the corresponding genes have not originated as the result of a recent duplication.

Precursors of Peptidoglycans in E. faecalis Vm^(R) and Vm^(S)

The incubation of E. faecalis V583 before the induction of the Vm^(R) or Vm^(S) strains of E. faecalis JH2-2 (Jacob and Hobbs, J. Bacteriol. 117, 1974, 360-372) with the cell wall inhibitor ramoplanin (9 ug/ml) led to the accumulation of the cell wall precursor UDP-N-acetyl-muramyl-L-Ala-D-Glu-L-Lys-D-Ala-D-Ala (UDP-Mur-NAc-pentapeptide) which is used in the normal cycle of peptidoglycan synthesis.

After the induction of resistance, E. faecalis V583 accumulated three cell wall intermediates when the strain was incubated with ramoplanin (Table IV). These intermediates were identified as being UDP-MurNAc-pentapeptides, UDP-MurNAc-tetrapeptides lacking the C-terminal D-Ala residue of the UDP-MurNAc-pentapeptide; and predominantly UDP-MurNAc-tetrapeptide-D-lactate in which the C-terminal D-Ala residue of the UDP-MurNAc-pentapeptide is replaced by D-lactate. The presence of UDP-MurNAc-tetrapeptide-D-lactate suggests that the strains of the VanA and VanB phenotypes have the same basic resistance mechanism to the glycopeptides; i.e. they synthesize D-lactate which may be linked to VanB (or VanA) by D-Ala to synthesize D-Ala-D-lactate which is then incorporated into the peptidoglycan precursor.

The wall precursors were purified by ion exchange chromatography and desalting by gel filtration. The identification was based on mass spectrometry (positive ion electrospray mass spectroscopy), a UV spectrum (for the uracil) automated amino acid analysis after hydrolysis for 4 h and 24 h (for muramic acid and the ratios of the amino acids) and the analysis by specific enzymatic reactions of the terminal residue carried out by reaction with D, D-carboxypeptidase of Actinomadura R39 (Messer and Reynolds, FEMS Microbiol. Letter 94 1992, 195-200).

The total quantity of precursors accumulated in each culture was approximately the same 65 μmol/g of dry weight during an incubation period corresponding to 0.6 of the mean synthesis time.

                  TABLE I                                                          ______________________________________                                         Bacterial strains                                                                                 Hybridization with                                            MIC (μg/ml) the vanB probe                                                Strain   Vm     Te     vanA vanB vanC Reference                                ______________________________________                                         E. faecalis                                                                      V583 64 0,5 -  + - Sahm et al (1989)                                           V583-C1 2 0,5 - - - D. F. Sahm                                                 V583-2 1024 1,0 - + - Zarlenga LJ (1992)                                       UMH-1 1024 1,0 - + - Schwalbe et al                                                  (1991)                                                                   ATCC 29212 2 0,5 - - -                                                         E. faecium                                                                     D366 32 0,5 - + - Gutmann et al                                                      (1992)                                                                   MT10R 2 0,25 - - - Gutmann et al                                                     (1992)                                                                   BM4147 1024 512 + - - Dutka-Malen et al                                              (1990)                                                                   ATCC 19434 1 1 - - -                                                           E. gallinarum 8 1 - - + Dutka-Malen et al                                      BM4174      (1992)                                                             E. casseliflavus 8 1 - - -                                                   ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE II                                                         ______________________________________                                         Phenotypic and genotypic classes among the Gram-positive                         cocci resistant to vancomycin                                                           GENO-                                                                 PHENO- TYPIC                                                                 TYPIC  CLASS                 MIC (μg/ml)                                    CLASS  (A)     SPECIES       Vancomycin                                                                             Teicoplanin                               ______________________________________                                         Suscep-                                                                               Suscep- Enterococcus spp. (10)                                                                       0.5-2   0.25                                        tible tible                                                                    A A E. faecium (6) 256->1.000 64->1.000                                        B B E. faecium (28) 4-256  0.5-1                                               B B E. faecalis (11) 4-1024 0.5-1                                              C C E. gallinarum (3) 8 1                                                      C NC E. casseliflavus (2) 4-8 0.5-1                                            NC NC Lactobacillus spp. (8) >1.000 >1.000                                     NC NC Leuconostoc. sp. (1) >1.000 >1.000                                       NC NC Pediococcus spp. (2) >1.000 >1.000                                       NC NC E.rhusiopathiae (1) >1.000 >1.000                                      ______________________________________                                          .sup.(a) A : hybridization with the vanA probe;                                B : hybridization with the vanB probe                                          C : hybridization with the vanC probe;                                         NC : not classed                                                         

                  TABLE III                                                        ______________________________________                                         Results of hybridization experiments                                                                   Number                                                    Resistance of strains Hybridization with probe                              Species    phenotype                                                                               tested   vanB ddl (En. faecalis)                           ______________________________________                                         En. faecalis                                                                              Vm.sup.R, Te.sup.S                                                                      11       +    +                                               Vm.sup.S, Te.sup.S  5 - +                                                     En. faecium Vm.sup.R, Te.sup.R  6 - -                                           Vm.sup.R, Te.sup.S 28 + -                                                      Vm.sup.S, Te.sup.S  4 - -                                                     En. gallinarum Vm.sup.R, Te.sup.S  3 - -                                       En. casseliflavus Vm.sup.R, Te.sup.S  2 - -                                    En. spp. Vm.sup.S, Te.sup.S 15 - -                                             (15 species.sup.a)                                                           ______________________________________                                          .sup.a Types of strains En. avium, En. cecorum, En. columbae, En. dispar,      En. durans, En. flavescens, En. hirae, En. malodorarus, En. mundrii, En.       pseudoavium, En. raffinosus, En. saccharolyricus, En. seriolicida, En.         solitarius et En. sulfureus.                                             

                  TABLE IV                                                         ______________________________________                                         Peptidoglycan precursors in Vm.sup.S or Vm.sup.R strains of En faecalis                        Quantity of precursor (%) in En faecalis                       Peptidoglycan            V583       V583                                         precursor JH2-2 not induced induced                                          ______________________________________                                         UDP-MurNAc-L-Ala-D-Glu-                                                                        100      100        14                                           L-Lys-D-Ala-D-Ala                                                              UDP-MurNAc-L-Ala-D-Glu-  0  0  7                                               L-Lys-D-Ala                                                                    UDP-MurNAc-L-Ala-D-Glu-  0  0 79                                               L-Lys-D-Ala-D-lactate                                                        ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE V                                                          ______________________________________                                         Sequence identity between the amino acid sequences of VanB,                      Ddl of En. faecalis V583 and D-Ala:D-Ala ligases.sup.a                         Compared   Percentage identity with respect to:                              sequence.sup.b                                                                          VanB    VanC    EfDdl EcDdlA                                                                               StDdlA                                                                               EcDdlB                              ______________________________________                                         VanA     76      38      32    38    37    30                                    VanB  38 34 38 38 32                                                           VanC   34 34 34 36                                                             EfDdl    40 40 34                                                              EcDdlA     90 35                                                               StDdlA      36                                                               ______________________________________                                          .sup.a Identity of pairs of sequences derived from the alignment of FIG.       .sup.b Ec, E. coli; Ef, En. faecalis; St, S. typhimurium                 

    __________________________________________________________________________     #             SEQUENCE LISTING                                                    - -  - - (1) GENERAL INFORMATION:                                              - -    (iii) NUMBER OF SEQUENCES: 17                                           - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:1:                                      - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 1140 base - #pairs                                                 (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: double                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)                                      - -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                   (A) NAME/KEY: CDS                                                              (B) LOCATION: 68..1093                                                - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:1:                                - - GAGCGTGTGC TGCGAGATAC CACAGAAAAC AATCAGAATT GTCTTAACTT TG -             #AAAGGAGT     60                                                                  - - TTACAGC ATG AAT AAA ATA AAA GTC GCA ATT ATC - #TTC GGC GGT TGC TCG           109                                                                                Met Asn Lys Ile Lys Val - #Ala Ile Ile Phe Gly Gly Cys Ser                       1        - #       5           - #       10                           - - GAG GAA CAT GAT GTG TCG GTA AAA TCC GCA AT - #A GAA ATT GCT GCG AAC           157                                                                        Glu Glu His Asp Val Ser Val Lys Ser Ala Il - #e Glu Ile Ala Ala Asn             15                 - # 20                 - # 25                 - # 30        - - ATT AAT ACT GAA AAA TTC GAT CCG CAC TAC AT - #C GGA ATT ACA AAA AAC           205                                                                        Ile Asn Thr Glu Lys Phe Asp Pro His Tyr Il - #e Gly Ile Thr Lys Asn                             35 - #                 40 - #                 45               - - GGC GTA TGG AAG CTA TGC AAG AAG CCA TGT AC - #G GAA TGG GAA GCC GAT           253                                                                        Gly Val Trp Lys Leu Cys Lys Lys Pro Cys Th - #r Glu Trp Glu Ala Asp                         50     - #             55     - #             60                   - - AGT CTC CCC GCC ATA TTC TCC CCG GAT AGG AA - #A ACG CAT GGT CTG CTT           301                                                                        Ser Leu Pro Ala Ile Phe Ser Pro Asp Arg Ly - #s Thr His Gly Leu Leu                     65         - #         70         - #         75                       - - GTC ATG AAA GAA AGA GAA TAC GAA ACT CGG CG - #T ATT GAC GTG GCT TTC           349                                                                        Val Met Lys Glu Arg Glu Tyr Glu Thr Arg Ar - #g Ile Asp Val Ala Phe                 80             - #     85             - #     90                           - - CCG GTT TTG CAT GGC AAA TGC GGG GAG GAT GG - #T GCG ATA CAG GGT CTG           397                                                                        Pro Val Leu His Gly Lys Cys Gly Glu Asp Gl - #y Ala Ile Gln Gly Leu             95                 - #100                 - #105                 - #110        - - TTT GAA TTG TCT GGT ATC CCC TAT GTA GGC TG - #C GAT ATT CAA AGC TCC           445                                                                        Phe Glu Leu Ser Gly Ile Pro Tyr Val Gly Cy - #s Asp Ile Gln Ser Ser                            115  - #               120  - #               125               - - GCA GCT TGC ATG GAC AAA TCA CTG GCC TAC AT - #T CTT ACA AAA AAT GCG           493                                                                        Ala Ala Cys Met Asp Lys Ser Leu Ala Tyr Il - #e Leu Thr Lys Asn Ala                        130      - #           135      - #           140                   - - GGC ATC GCC GTC CCC GAA TTT CAA ATG ATT GA - #A AAA GGT GAC AAA CCG           541                                                                        Gly Ile Ala Val Pro Glu Phe Gln Met Ile Gl - #u Lys Gly Asp Lys Pro                    145          - #       150          - #       155                       - - GAG GCG AGG ACG CTT ACC TAC CCT GTC TTT GT - #G AAG CCG GCA CGG TCA           589                                                                        Glu Ala Arg Thr Leu Thr Tyr Pro Val Phe Va - #l Lys Pro Ala Arg Ser                160              - #   165              - #   170                           - - GGT TCG TCC TTT GGC GTA ACC AAA GTA AAC AG - #T ACG GAA GAA CTA AAC           637                                                                        Gly Ser Ser Phe Gly Val Thr Lys Val Asn Se - #r Thr Glu Glu Leu Asn            175                 1 - #80                 1 - #85                 1 -       #90                                                                               - - GCT GCG ATA GAA GCA GCA GGA CAA TAT GAT GG - #A AAA ATC TTA ATT         GAG      685                                                                     Ala Ala Ile Glu Ala Ala Gly Gln Tyr Asp Gl - #y Lys Ile Leu Ile Glu                           195  - #               200  - #               205               - - CAA GCG ATT TCG GGC TGT GAG GTC GGC TGC GC - #G GTC ATG GGA AAC GAG           733                                                                        Gln Ala Ile Ser Gly Cys Glu Val Gly Cys Al - #a Val Met Gly Asn Glu                        210      - #           215      - #           220                   - - GAT GAT TTG ATT GTC GGC GAA GTG GAT CAA AT - #C CGG TTG AGC CAC GGT           781                                                                        Asp Asp Leu Ile Val Gly Glu Val Asp Gln Il - #e Arg Leu Ser His Gly                    225          - #       230          - #       235                       - - ATC TTC CGC ATC CAT CAG GAA AAC GAG CCG GA - #A AAA GGC TCA GAG AAT           829                                                                        Ile Phe Arg Ile His Gln Glu Asn Glu Pro Gl - #u Lys Gly Ser Glu Asn                240              - #   245              - #   250                           - - GCG ATG ATT ATC GTT CCA GCA GAC ATT CCG GT - #C GAG GAA CGA AAT CGG           877                                                                        Ala Met Ile Ile Val Pro Ala Asp Ile Pro Va - #l Glu Glu Arg Asn Arg            255                 2 - #60                 2 - #65                 2 -       #70                                                                               - - GTG CAA GAA ACG GCA AAG AAA GTA TAT CGG GT - #G CTT GGA TGC AGA         GGG      925                                                                     Val Gln Glu Thr Ala Lys Lys Val Tyr Arg Va - #l Leu Gly Cys Arg Gly                           275  - #               280  - #               285               - - CTT GCT CGT GTT GAT CTT TTT TTG CAG GAG GA - #T GGC GGC ATC GTT CTA           973                                                                        Leu Ala Arg Val Asp Leu Phe Leu Gln Glu As - #p Gly Gly Ile Val Leu                        290      - #           295      - #           300                   - - AAC GAG GTC AAT ACC CTG CCC GGT TTT ACA TC - #G TAC AGC CGC TAT CCA          1021                                                                        Asn Glu Val Asn Thr Leu Pro Gly Phe Thr Se - #r Tyr Ser Arg Tyr Pro                    305          - #       310          - #       315                       - - CGC ATG GCG GCT GCC GCA GGA ATC ACG CTT CC - #C GCA CTA ATT GAC AGC          1069                                                                        Arg Met Ala Ala Ala Ala Gly Ile Thr Leu Pr - #o Ala Leu Ile Asp Ser                320              - #   325              - #   330                           - - CTG ATT ACA TTG GCG ATA GAG AGG TGACCCGTAT GG - #AAAATGGT TTTTTGTTTT         1123                                                                        Leu Ile Thr Leu Ala Ile Glu Arg                                                335                 3 - #40                                                     - - TTAGATGAAA TGTTGCA             - #                  - #                       - # 1140                                                                    - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:2:                                      - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 342 amino - #acids                                                 (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                            - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:2:                                - - Met Asn Lys Ile Lys Val Ala Ile Ile Phe Gl - #y Gly Cys Ser Glu Glu         1               5 - #                 10 - #                 15               - - His Asp Val Ser Val Lys Ser Ala Ile Glu Il - #e Ala Ala Asn Ile Asn                    20     - #             25     - #             30                   - - Thr Glu Lys Phe Asp Pro His Tyr Ile Gly Il - #e Thr Lys Asn Gly Val                35         - #         40         - #         45                       - - Trp Lys Leu Cys Lys Lys Pro Cys Thr Glu Tr - #p Glu Ala Asp Ser Leu            50             - #     55             - #     60                           - - Pro Ala Ile Phe Ser Pro Asp Arg Lys Thr Hi - #s Gly Leu Leu Val Met        65                 - # 70                 - # 75                 - # 80        - - Lys Glu Arg Glu Tyr Glu Thr Arg Arg Ile As - #p Val Ala Phe Pro Val                        85 - #                 90 - #                 95               - - Leu His Gly Lys Cys Gly Glu Asp Gly Ala Il - #e Gln Gly Leu Phe Glu                   100      - #           105      - #           110                   - - Leu Ser Gly Ile Pro Tyr Val Gly Cys Asp Il - #e Gln Ser Ser Ala Ala               115          - #       120          - #       125                       - - Cys Met Asp Lys Ser Leu Ala Tyr Ile Leu Th - #r Lys Asn Ala Gly Ile           130              - #   135              - #   140                           - - Ala Val Pro Glu Phe Gln Met Ile Glu Lys Gl - #y Asp Lys Pro Glu Ala       145                 1 - #50                 1 - #55                 1 -       #60                                                                               - - Arg Thr Leu Thr Tyr Pro Val Phe Val Lys Pr - #o Ala Arg Ser Gly         Ser                                                                                              165  - #               170  - #               175              - - Ser Phe Gly Val Thr Lys Val Asn Ser Thr Gl - #u Glu Leu Asn Ala Ala                   180      - #           185      - #           190                   - - Ile Glu Ala Ala Gly Gln Tyr Asp Gly Lys Il - #e Leu Ile Glu Gln Ala               195          - #       200          - #       205                       - - Ile Ser Gly Cys Glu Val Gly Cys Ala Val Me - #t Gly Asn Glu Asp Asp           210              - #   215              - #   220                           - - Leu Ile Val Gly Glu Val Asp Gln Ile Arg Le - #u Ser His Gly Ile Phe       225                 2 - #30                 2 - #35                 2 -       #40                                                                               - - Arg Ile His Gln Glu Asn Glu Pro Glu Lys Gl - #y Ser Glu Asn Ala         Met                                                                                              245  - #               250  - #               255              - - Ile Ile Val Pro Ala Asp Ile Pro Val Glu Gl - #u Arg Asn Arg Val Gln                   260      - #           265      - #           270                   - - Glu Thr Ala Lys Lys Val Tyr Arg Val Leu Gl - #y Cys Arg Gly Leu Ala               275          - #       280          - #       285                       - - Arg Val Asp Leu Phe Leu Gln Glu Asp Gly Gl - #y Ile Val Leu Asn Glu           290              - #   295              - #   300                           - - Val Asn Thr Leu Pro Gly Phe Thr Ser Tyr Se - #r Arg Tyr Pro Arg Met       305                 3 - #10                 3 - #15                 3 -       #20                                                                               - - Ala Ala Ala Ala Gly Ile Thr Leu Pro Ala Le - #u Ile Asp Ser Leu         Ile                                                                                              325  - #               330  - #               335              - - Thr Leu Ala Ile Glu Arg                                                               340                                                                 - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:3:                                      - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 589 base - #pairs                                                  (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: other nucleic acid                                 - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:3:                                - - TCTGTTTGAA TTGTCTGGTA TCCCCTATGT AGGCTGCGAT ATTCAAAGCT CC -              #GCAGCTTG     60                                                                  - - CATGGACAAA TCACTGGCCT ACATTCTTAC AAAAAATGCG GGCATCGCCG TC -             #CCCGAATT    120                                                                  - - TCAAATGATT GAAAAAGGTG ACAAACCGGA GGCGAGGACG CTTACCTACC CT -             #GTCTTTGT    180                                                                  - - GAAGCCGGCA CGGTCAGGTT CGTCCTTTGG CGTAACCAAA GTAAACAGTA CG -             #GAAGAACT    240                                                                  - - AAACGCTGCG ATAGAAGCAG CAGGACAATA TGATGGAAAA ATCTTAATTG AG -             #CAAGCGAT    300                                                                  - - TTCGGGCTGT GAGGTCGGCT GCGCGGTCAT GGGAAACGAG GATGATTTGA TT -             #GTCGGCGA    360                                                                  - - AGTGGATCAA ATCCGGTTGA GCCACGGTAT CTTCCGCATC CATCAGGAAA AC -             #GAGCCGGA    420                                                                  - - AAAAGGCTCA GAGAATGCGA TGATTATCGT TCCAGCAGAC ATTCCGGTCG AG -             #GAACGAAA    480                                                                  - - TCGGGTGCAA GAAACGGCAA AGAAAGTATA TCGGGTGCTT GGATGCAGAG GG -             #CTTGCTCG    540                                                                  - - TGTTGATCTT TTTTTGCAGG AGGATGGCGG CATCGTTCTA AACGAGGTC  - #                   589                                                                         - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:4:                                      - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 17 base - #pairs                                                   (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: other nucleic acid                                 - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:4:                                - - ATGGGAAGCC GATAGTC             - #                  - #                       - #   17                                                                    - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:5:                                      - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 17 base - #pairs                                                   (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: other nucleic acid                                 - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:5:                                - - GATTTCGTTC CTCGACC             - #                  - #                       - #   17                                                                    - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:6:                                      - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 343 amino - #acids                                                 (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: Not R - #elevant                                             (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                            - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:6:                                - - Met Asn Arg Ile Lys Val Ala Ile Leu Phe Gl - #y Gly Cys Ser Glu Glu       1               5   - #                10  - #                15                - - His Asp Val Ser Val Lys Ser Ala Ile Glu Il - #e Ala Ala Asn Ile Asn                   20      - #            25      - #            30                    - - Lys Glu Lys Tyr Glu Pro Leu Tyr Ile Gly Il - #e Thr Lys Ser Gly Val               35          - #        40          - #        45                        - - Trp Lys Met Cys Glu Lys Pro Cys Ala Glu Tr - #p Glu Asn Asp Asn Cys           50              - #    55              - #    60                            - - Tyr Ser Ala Val Leu Ser Pro Asp Lys Lys Me - #t His Gly Leu Leu Val       65                  - #70                  - #75                  - #80         - - Lys Lys Asn His Glu Tyr Glu Ile Asn His Va - #l Asp Val Ala Phe Ser                       85  - #                90  - #                95                - - Ala Leu His Gly Lys Ser Gly Glu Asp Gly Se - #r Ile Gln Gly Leu Phe                   100      - #           105      - #           110                   - - Glu Leu Ser Gly Ile Pro Phe Val Gly Cys As - #p Ile Gln Ser Ser Ala               115          - #       120          - #       125                       - - Ile Cys Met Asp Lys Ser Leu Thr Tyr Ile Va - #l Ala Lys Asn Ala Gly           130              - #   135              - #   140                           - - Ile Ala Thr Pro Ala Phe Trp Val Ile Asn Ly - #s Asp Asp Arg Pro Val       145                 1 - #50                 1 - #55                 1 -       #60                                                                               - - Ala Ala Thr Phe Thr Tyr Pro Val Phe Val Ly - #s Pro Ala Arg Ser         Gly                                                                                              165  - #               170  - #               175              - - Ser Ser Phe Gly Val Lys Lys Val Asn Ser Al - #a Asp Glu Leu Asp Tyr                   180      - #           185      - #           190                   - - Ala Ile Glu Ser Ala Arg Gln Tyr Asp Ser Ly - #s Ile Leu Ile Glu Gln               195          - #       200          - #       205                       - - Ala Val Ser Gly Cys Glu Val Gly Cys Ala Va - #l Leu Gly Asn Ser Ala           210              - #   215              - #   220                           - - Ala Leu Val Val Gly Glu Val Asp Gln Ile Ar - #g Leu Gln Tyr Gly Ile       225                 2 - #30                 2 - #35                 2 -       #40                                                                               - - Phe Arg Ile His Gln Glu Val Glu Pro Glu Ly - #s Gly Ser Glu Asn         Ala                                                                                              245  - #               250  - #               255              - - Val Ile Thr Val Pro Ala Asp Leu Ser Ala Gl - #u Glu Arg Gly Arg Ile                   260      - #           265      - #           270                   - - Gln Glu Thr Ala Lys Lys Ile Tyr Lys Ala Le - #u Gly Cys Arg Gly Leu               275          - #       280          - #       285                       - - Ala Arg Val Asp Met Phe Leu Gln Asp Asn Gl - #y Arg Ile Val Leu Asn           290              - #   295              - #   300                           - - Glu Val Asn Thr Leu Pro Gly Phe Thr Ser Ty - #r Ser Arg Tyr Pro Arg       305                 3 - #10                 3 - #15                 3 -       #20                                                                               - - Met Met Ala Ala Ala Gly Ile Ala Leu Pro Gl - #u Leu Ile Asp Arg         Leu                                                                                              325  - #               330  - #               335              - - Ile Val Leu Ala Leu Lys Gly                                                           340                                                                 - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:7:                                      - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 343 amino - #acids                                                 (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: Not R - #elevant                                             (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                            - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:7:                                - - Met Lys Lys Ile Ala Val Leu Phe Gly Gly As - #n Ser Pro Glu Tyr Ser       1               5   - #                10  - #                15                - - Val Ser Leu Thr Ser Ala Ala Ser Val Ile Gl - #n Ala Ile Asp Pro Leu                   20      - #            25      - #            30                    - - Lys Tyr Glu Val Met Thr Ile Gly Ile Ala Pr - #o Thr Met Asp Trp Tyr               35          - #        40          - #        45                        - - Trp Tyr Gln Gly Asn Leu Ala Asn Val Arg As - #n Asp Thr Trp Leu Glu           50              - #    55              - #    60                            - - Asp His Lys Asn Cys His Gln Leu Thr Phe Se - #r Ser Gln Gly Phe Ile       65                  - #70                  - #75                  - #80         - - Leu Gly Glu Lys Arg Ile Val Pro Asp Val Le - #u Phe Pro Val Leu His                       85  - #                90  - #                95                - - Gly Lys Tyr Gly Glu Asp Gly Cys Ile Gln Gl - #y Leu Leu Glu Leu Met                   100      - #           105      - #           110                   - - Asn Leu Pro Tyr Val Gly Cys His Val Ala Al - #a Ser Ala Leu Cys Met               115          - #       120          - #       125                       - - Asn Lys Trp Leu Leu His Gln Leu Ala Asp Th - #r Met Gly Ile Ala Ser           130              - #   135              - #   140                           - - Ala Pro Thr Leu Leu Leu Ser Arg Tyr Glu As - #n Asp Pro Ala Thr Ile       145                 1 - #50                 1 - #55                 1 -       #60                                                                               - - Asp Arg Phe Ile Gln Asp His Gly Phe Pro Il - #e Phe Ile Lys Pro         Asn                                                                                              165  - #               170  - #               175              - - Glu Ala Gly Ser Ser Lys Gly Ile Thr Lys Va - #l Thr Asp Lys Thr Ala                   180      - #           185      - #           190                   - - Leu Gln Ser Ala Leu Thr Thr Ala Phe Ala Ty - #r Gly Ser Thr Val Leu               195          - #       200          - #       205                       - - Ile Gln Lys Ala Ile Ala Gly Ile Glu Ile Gl - #y Cys Gly Ile Leu Gly           210              - #   215              - #   220                           - - Asn Glu Gln Leu Thr Ile Gly Ala Cys Asp Al - #a Ile Ser Leu Val Asp       225                 2 - #30                 2 - #35                 2 -       #40                                                                               - - Gly Phe Phe Asp Phe Glu Glu Lys Tyr Gln Le - #u Ile Ser Ala Thr         Ile                                                                                              245  - #               250  - #               255              - - Thr Val Pro Ala Pro Leu Pro Leu Ala Leu Gl - #u Ser Gln Ile Lys Glu                   260      - #           265      - #           270                   - - Gln Ala Gln Leu Leu Tyr Arg Asn Leu Gly Le - #u Thr Gly Leu Ala Arg               275          - #       280          - #       285                       - - Ile Asp Phe Phe Val Thr Asn Gln Gly Ala Il - #e Tyr Leu Asn Glu Ile           290              - #   295              - #   300                           - - Asn Thr Met Pro Gly Phe Thr Gly His Ser Ar - #g Tyr Pro Ala Met Met       305                 3 - #10                 3 - #15                 3 -       #20                                                                               - - Ala Glu Val Gly Leu Ser Tyr Glu Ile Leu Va - #l Glu Gln Leu Ile         Ala                                                                                              325  - #               330  - #               335              - - Leu Ala Glu Glu Asp Lys Arg                                                           340                                                                 - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:8:                                      - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 348 amino - #acids                                                 (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: Not R - #elevant                                             (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                            - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:8:                                - - Leu Lys Ile Ile Leu Leu Tyr Gly Gly Arg Se - #r Glu Glu His Asp Val       1               5   - #                10  - #                15                - - Ser Val Leu Ser Ala Tyr Ser Val Leu Asn Al - #a Ile Tyr Tyr Lys Tyr                   20      - #            25      - #            30                    - - Tyr Gln Val Gln Leu Val Phe Ile Ser Lys As - #p Gly Gln Trp Val Lys               35          - #        40          - #        45                        - - Gly Pro Leu Leu Ser Glu Arg Pro Gln Asn Ly - #s Glu Val Leu His Leu           50              - #    55              - #    60                            - - Thr Trp Ala Gln Thr Pro Glu Glu Thr Gly Gl - #u Phe Ser Gly Lys Arg       65                  - #70                  - #75                  - #80         - - Ile Ser Pro Ser Glu Ile Tyr Glu Glu Glu Al - #a Ile Val Phe Pro Val                       85  - #                90  - #                95                - - Leu His Gly Pro Asn Gly Glu Asp Gly Ser Il - #e Gln Gly Phe Met Glu                   100      - #           105      - #           110                   - - Thr Ile Asn Met Pro Tyr Val Gly Ala Gly Va - #l Leu Ala Ser Ala Asn               115          - #       120          - #       125                       - - Ala Met Asp Lys Ile Met Thr Lys Val Leu Le - #u Gln Thr Val Gly Ile           130              - #   135              - #   140                           - - Pro Gln Val Pro Phe Val Pro Val Leu Arg Se - #r Asp Trp Lys Gly Asn       145                 1 - #50                 1 - #55                 1 -       #60                                                                               - - Pro Lys Glu Val Thr Glu Lys Cys Glu Gly Se - #r Leu Ile Tyr Pro         Val                                                                                              165  - #               170  - #               175              - - Phe Val Lys Pro Ala Asn Met Gly Ser Ser Va - #l Gly Ile Ser Lys Val                   180      - #           185      - #           190                   - - Glu Asn Arg Asp Glu Leu Gln Glu Ala Leu Gl - #u Glu Ala Phe Arg Tyr               195          - #       200          - #       205                       - - Asp Ala Arg Ala Ile Val Glu Gln Gly Ile Gl - #u Ala Arg Glu Ile Glu           210              - #   215              - #   220                           - - Val Ala Ile Leu Gly Asn Glu Asp Val Arg Th - #r Thr Leu Pro Gly Glu       225                 2 - #30                 2 - #35                 2 -       #40                                                                               - - Val Val Lys Asp Val Ala Phe Tyr Asp Tyr As - #p Ala Lys Tyr Ile         Asn                                                                                              245  - #               250  - #               255              - - Asn Thr Ile Glu Met Gln Ile Pro Ala His Va - #l Pro Glu Glu Val Ala                   260      - #           265      - #           270                   - - His Gln Ala Gln Glu Tyr Ala Lys Lys Ala Ty - #r Ile Met Leu Asp Gly               275          - #       280          - #       285                       - - Ser Gly Leu Ser Arg Cys Asp Phe Phe Leu Th - #r Ser Lys Asn Glu Leu           290              - #   295              - #   300                           - - Phe Leu Asn Glu Leu Asn Thr Met Pro Gly Ph - #e Thr Pro Phe Ser Met       305                 3 - #10                 3 - #15                 3 -       #20                                                                               - - Tyr Pro Leu Leu Trp Glu Asn Met Gly Leu Ly - #s Tyr Ser Asp Leu         Ile                                                                                              325  - #               330  - #               335              - - Glu Glu Leu Ile Gln Leu Ala Leu Asn Arg Ph - #e Lys                                   340      - #           345                                          - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:9:                                      - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 364 amino - #acids                                                 (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: Not R - #elevant                                             (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                            - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:9:                                - - Met Glu Lys Leu Arg Val Gly Ile Val Phe Gl - #y Gly Lys Ser Ala Glu       1               5   - #                10  - #                15                - - His Glu Val Ser Leu Gln Ser Ala Lys Asn Il - #e Val Asp Ala Ile Asp                   20      - #            25      - #            30                    - - Lys Ser Arg Phe Asp Val Val Leu Leu Gly Il - #e Asp Lys Gln Gly Gln               35          - #        40          - #        45                        - - Trp His Val Ser Asp Ala Ser Asn Tyr Leu Le - #u Asn Ala Asp Asp Pro           50              - #    55              - #    60                            - - Ala His Ile Ala Leu Arg Pro Ser Ala Thr Se - #r Leu Ala Gln Val Pro       65                  - #70                  - #75                  - #80         - - Gly Lys His Glu His Gln Leu Ile Asp Ala Gl - #n Asn Gly Gln Pro Leu                       85  - #                90  - #                95                - - Pro Thr Val Asp Val Ile Phe Pro Ile Val Hi - #s Gly Thr Leu Gly Glu                   100      - #           105      - #           110                   - - Asp Gly Ser Leu Gln Gly Met Leu Arg Val Al - #a Asn Leu Pro Phe Val               115          - #       120          - #       125                       - - Gly Ser Asp Val Leu Ala Ser Ala Ala Cys Me - #t Asp Lys Asp Val Thr           130              - #   135              - #   140                           - - Lys Arg Leu Leu Arg Asp Ala Gly Leu Asn Il - #e Ala Pro Phe Ile Thr       145                 1 - #50                 1 - #55                 1 -       #60                                                                               - - Leu Thr Arg Ala Asn Arg His Asn Ile Ser Ph - #e Ala Glu Val Glu         Ser                                                                                              165  - #               170  - #               175              - - Lys Leu Gly Leu Pro Leu Phe Val Lys Pro Al - #a Asn Gln Gly Ser Ser                   180      - #           185      - #           190                   - - Val Gly Val Ser Lys Val Thr Ser Glu Glu Gl - #n Tyr Ala Ile Ala Val               195          - #       200          - #       205                       - - Asp Leu Ala Phe Glu Phe Asp His Lys Val Il - #e Val Glu Gln Gly Ile           210              - #   215              - #   220                           - - Lys Gly Arg Glu Ile Glu Cys Ala Val Leu Gl - #y Asn Asp Asn Pro Gln       225                 2 - #30                 2 - #35                 2 -       #40                                                                               - - Ala Ser Thr Cys Gly Glu Ile Val Leu Thr Se - #r Asp Phe Tyr Ala         Tyr                                                                                              245  - #               250  - #               255              - - Asp Thr Lys Tyr Ile Asp Glu Asp Gly Ala Ly - #s Val Val Val Pro Ala                   260      - #           265      - #           270                   - - Ala Ile Ala Pro Glu Ile Asn Asp Lys Ile Ar - #g Ala Ile Ala Val Gln               275          - #       280          - #       285                       - - Ala Tyr Gln Thr Leu Gly Cys Ala Gly Met Al - #a Arg Val Asp Val Phe           290              - #   295              - #   300                           - - Leu Thr Pro Glu Asn Glu Val Val Ile Asn Gl - #u Ile Asn Thr Leu Pro       305                 3 - #10                 3 - #15                 3 -       #20                                                                               - - Gly Phe Thr Asn Ile Ser Met Tyr Pro Lys Le - #u Trp Gln Ala Ser         Gly                                                                                              325  - #               330  - #               335              - - Leu Gly Tyr Thr Asp Leu Ile Thr Arg Leu Il - #e Glu Leu Ala Leu Glu                   340      - #           345      - #           350                   - - Arg His Ala Ala Asn Asn Ala Leu Lys Thr Th - #r Met                               355          - #       360                                              - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:10:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 364 amino - #acids                                                 (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: Not R - #elevant                                             (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                            - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:10:                               - - Met Ala Lys Leu Arg Val Gly Ile Val Phe Gl - #y Gly Lys Ser Ala Glu       1               5   - #                10  - #                15                - - His Glu Val Ser Leu Gln Ser Ala Lys Asn Il - #e Val Asp Ala Ile Asp                   20      - #            25      - #            30                    - - Lys Thr Arg Phe Asp Val Val Leu Leu Gly Il - #e Asp Lys Ala Gly Gln               35          - #        40          - #        45                        - - Trp His Val Asn Asp Ala Glu Asn Tyr Leu Gl - #n Asn Ala Asp Asp Pro           50              - #    55              - #    60                            - - Ala His Ile Ala Leu Arg Pro Ser Ala Ile Se - #r Leu Ala Gln Val Pro       65                  - #70                  - #75                  - #80         - - Gly Lys His Gln His Gln Leu Ile Asn Ala Gl - #n Asn Gly Gln Pro Leu                       85  - #                90  - #                95                - - Pro Thr Val Asp Val Ile Phe Pro Ile Val Hi - #s Gly Thr Leu Gly Glu                   100      - #           105      - #           110                   - - Asp Gly Ser Leu Gln Gly Met Leu Arg Val Al - #a Asn Leu Pro Phe Val               115          - #       120          - #       125                       - - Gly Ser Asp Val Leu Ser Ser Ala Ala Cys Me - #t Asp Lys Asp Val Ala           130              - #   135              - #   140                           - - Lys Arg Leu Leu Arg Asp Ala Gly Leu Asn Il - #e Ala Pro Phe Ile Thr       145                 1 - #50                 1 - #55                 1 -       #60                                                                               - - Leu Thr Arg Thr Asn Arg His Ala Phe Ser Ph - #e Ala Glu Val Glu         Ser                                                                                              165  - #               170  - #               175              - - Arg Leu Gly Leu Pro Leu Phe Val Lys Pro Al - #a Asn Gln Gly Ser Ser                   180      - #           185      - #           190                   - - Val Gly Val Ser Lys Val Ala Asn Glu Ala Gl - #n Tyr Gln Gln Ala Val               195          - #       200          - #       205                       - - Ala Leu Ala Phe Glu Phe Asp His Lys Val Va - #l Val Glu Gln Gly Ile           210              - #   215              - #   220                           - - Lys Gly Arg Glu Ile Glu Cys Ala Val Leu Gl - #y Asn Asp Asn Pro Gln       225                 2 - #30                 2 - #35                 2 -       #40                                                                               - - Ala Ser Thr Cys Gly Glu Ile Val Leu Asn Se - #r Glu Phe Tyr Ala         Tyr                                                                                              245  - #               250  - #               255              - - Asp Thr Lys Tyr Ile Asp Asp Asn Gly Ala Gl - #n Val Val Val Pro Ala                   260      - #           265      - #           270                   - - Gln Ile Pro Ser Glu Val Asn Asp Lys Ile Ar - #g Ala Ile Ala Ile Gln               275          - #       280          - #       285                       - - Ala Tyr Gln Thr Leu Gly Cys Ala Gly Met Al - #a Arg Val Asp Val Phe           290              - #   295              - #   300                           - - Leu Thr Ala Asp Asn Glu Val Val Ile Asn Gl - #u Ile Asn Thr Leu Pro       305                 3 - #10                 3 - #15                 3 -       #20                                                                               - - Gly Phe Thr Asn Ile Ser Met Tyr Pro Lys Le - #u Trp Gln Ala Ser         Gly                                                                                              325  - #               330  - #               335              - - Leu Gly Tyr Thr Asp Leu Ile Ser Arg Leu Il - #e Glu Leu Ala Leu Glu                   340      - #           345      - #           350                   - - Arg His Thr Ala Asn Asn Ala Leu Lys Thr Th - #r Met                               355          - #       360                                              - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:11:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 306 amino - #acids                                                 (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS: Not R - #elevant                                             (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                            - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:11:                               - - Met Thr Asp Lys Ile Ala Val Leu Leu Gly Gl - #y Thr Ser Ala Glu Arg       1               5   - #                10  - #                15                - - Glu Val Ser Leu Asn Ser Gly Ala Ala Val Le - #u Ala Gly Leu Arg Glu                   20      - #            25      - #            30                    - - Gly Gly Ile Asp Ala Tyr Pro Val Asp Pro Ly - #s Glu Val Asp Val Thr               35          - #        40          - #        45                        - - Gln Leu Lys Ser Met Gly Phe Gln Lys Val Ph - #e Ile Ala Leu His Gly           50              - #    55              - #    60                            - - Arg Gly Gly Glu Asp Gly Thr Leu Gln Gly Me - #t Leu Glu Leu Met Gly       65                  - #70                  - #75                  - #80         - - Leu Pro Tyr Thr Gly Ser Gly Val Met Ala Se - #r Ala Leu Ser Met Asp                       85  - #                90  - #                95                - - Lys Leu Arg Ser Lys Leu Leu Trp Gln Gly Al - #a Gly Leu Pro Val Ala                   100      - #           105      - #           110                   - - Pro Trp Val Ala Leu Thr Arg Ala Glu Phe Gl - #u Lys Gly Leu Ser Asp               115          - #       120          - #       125                       - - Lys Gln Leu Ala Glu Ile Ser Ala Leu Gly Le - #u Pro Val Ile Val Lys           130              - #   135              - #   140                           - - Pro Ser Arg Glu Gly Ser Ser Val Gly Met Se - #r Lys Val Val Ala Glu       145                 1 - #50                 1 - #55                 1 -       #60                                                                               - - Asn Ala Leu Gln Asp Ala Leu Arg Leu Ala Ph - #e Gln His Asp Glu         Glu                                                                                              165  - #               170  - #               175              - - Val Leu Ile Glu Lys Trp Leu Ser Gly Pro Gl - #u Phe Thr Val Ala Ile                   180      - #           185      - #           190                   - - Leu Gly Glu Glu Ile Leu Pro Ser Ile Arg Il - #e Gln Pro Ser Gly Thr               195          - #       200          - #       205                       - - Phe Tyr Asp Tyr Glu Ala Lys Tyr Leu Ser As - #p Glu Thr Gln Tyr Phe           210              - #   215              - #   220                           - - Cys Pro Ala Gly Leu Glu Ala Ser Gln Glu Al - #a Asn Leu Gln Ala Leu       225                 2 - #30                 2 - #35                 2 -       #40                                                                               - - Val Leu Lys Ala Trp Thr Thr Leu Gly Cys Ly - #s Gly Trp Gly Arg         Ile                                                                                              245  - #               250  - #               255              - - Asp Val Met Leu Asp Ser Asp Gly Gln Phe Ty - #r Leu Leu Glu Ala Asn                   260      - #           265      - #           270                   - - Thr Ser Pro Gly Met Thr Ser His Ser Leu Va - #l Pro Met Ala Ala Arg               275          - #       280          - #       285                       - - Gln Ala Gly Met Ser Phe Ser Gln Leu Val Va - #l Arg Ile Leu Glu Leu           290              - #   295              - #   300                           - - Ala Asp                                                                   305                                                                             - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:12:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 24 base - #pairs                                                   (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: other nucleic acid                                 - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:12:                               - - GGNGARGAYG GNWSNYTNCA RGGN          - #                  - #                     24                                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:13:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 21 base - #pairs                                                   (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: other nucleic acid                                 - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:13:                               - - AAYACNHTNC CNGGNTTTAC N           - #                  - #                       - #21                                                                    - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:14:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 23 base - #pairs                                                   (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: other nucleic acid                                 - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:14:                               - - GGNGARGAYG GNRSNHTNCA RGG           - #                  - #                     23                                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:15:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 20 base - #pairs                                                   (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: other nucleic acid                                 - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:15:                               - - TGRAANCCNG GNADNGTRTT            - #                  - #                       - # 20                                                                    - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:16:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 1079 base - #pairs                                                 (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: double                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)                                      - -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                   (A) NAME/KEY: CDS                                                              (B) LOCATION: 33..1076                                                - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:16:                               - - AAAGACAGGA AAGAAACTAG GAGGACAAGC AT TTG AAG ATT ATT - # TTG TTG TAT            53                                                                                          - #                  - #Leu Lys Ile Ile Leu Leu Tyr                            - #                  - #        345                           - - GGC GGC AGA AGT GAA GAG CAC GAT GTG TCT GT - #T TTG TCT GCA TAT TCC           101                                                                        Gly Gly Arg Ser Glu Glu His Asp Val Ser Va - #l Leu Ser Ala Tyr Ser            350                 3 - #55                 3 - #60                 3 -       #65                                                                               - - GTT TTA AAT GCA ATC TAT TAT AAA TAT TAT CA - #A GTA CAG TTA GTC         TTT      149                                                                     Val Leu Asn Ala Ile Tyr Tyr Lys Tyr Tyr Gl - #n Val Gln Leu Val Phe                           370  - #               375  - #               380               - - ATT AGT AAA GAC GGT CAA TGG GTA AAA GGC CC - #T CTT TTA TCT GAA CGA           197                                                                        Ile Ser Lys Asp Gly Gln Trp Val Lys Gly Pr - #o Leu Leu Ser Glu Arg                        385      - #           390      - #           395                   - - CCA CAA AAT AAA GAA GTT TTA CAT TTA ACT TG - #G GCA CAA ACA CCT GAA           245                                                                        Pro Gln Asn Lys Glu Val Leu His Leu Thr Tr - #p Ala Gln Thr Pro Glu                    400          - #       405          - #       410                       - - GAA ACA GGC GAA TTT TCA GGA AAA CGA ATC AG - #T CCT TCG GAA ATT TAT           293                                                                        Glu Thr Gly Glu Phe Ser Gly Lys Arg Ile Se - #r Pro Ser Glu Ile Tyr                415              - #   420              - #   425                           - - GAA GAA GAA GCG ATT GTT TTC CCT GTT TTA CA - #T GGG CCA AAT GGT GAA           341                                                                        Glu Glu Glu Ala Ile Val Phe Pro Val Leu Hi - #s Gly Pro Asn Gly Glu            430                 4 - #35                 4 - #40                 4 -       #45                                                                               - - GAT GGA ACA ATT CAA GGA TTC ATG GAA ACC AT - #T AAT ATG CCT TAT         GTA      389                                                                     Asp Gly Thr Ile Gln Gly Phe Met Glu Thr Il - #e Asn Met Pro Tyr Val                           450  - #               455  - #               460               - - GGC GCG GGT GTC TTA GCT AGC GTT AAC GCA AT - #G GAC AAA ATC ATG ACG           437                                                                        Gly Ala Gly Val Leu Ala Ser Val Asn Ala Me - #t Asp Lys Ile Met Thr                        465      - #           470      - #           475                   - - AAA TAT CTT TTA CAA ACT GTT GGC ATT CCA CA - #A GTA CCA TTC GTG CCA           485                                                                        Lys Tyr Leu Leu Gln Thr Val Gly Ile Pro Gl - #n Val Pro Phe Val Pro                    480          - #       485          - #       490                       - - GTT TTA AGA AGT GAC TGG AAA GGA AAT CCA AA - #A GAA GTC TTT GAA AAA           533                                                                        Val Leu Arg Ser Asp Trp Lys Gly Asn Pro Ly - #s Glu Val Phe Glu Lys                495              - #   500              - #   505                           - - TGT GAA GGT TCT TTA ATT TAT CCG GTC TTT GT - #T AAA CCT GCC AAT ATG           581                                                                        Cys Glu Gly Ser Leu Ile Tyr Pro Val Phe Va - #l Lys Pro Ala Asn Met            510                 5 - #15                 5 - #20                 5 -       #25                                                                               - - GGT TCT AGT GTC GGA ATT AGC AAA GTG GAA AA - #T CGT GAA GAA TTG         CAA      629                                                                     Gly Ser Ser Val Gly Ile Ser Lys Val Glu As - #n Arg Glu Glu Leu Gln                           530  - #               535  - #               540               - - GAA GCA TTG GAA GAA GCT TTC CGT TAT GAT GC - #C CGA GCA ATT GTT GAA           677                                                                        Glu Ala Leu Glu Glu Ala Phe Arg Tyr Asp Al - #a Arg Ala Ile Val Glu                        545      - #           550      - #           555                   - - CAA GGG ATC GAA GCA CGT GAA ATT GAA GTA GC - #C ATT TTA GGA AAT GAA           725                                                                        Gln Gly Ile Glu Ala Arg Glu Ile Glu Val Al - #a Ile Leu Gly Asn Glu                    560          - #       565          - #       570                       - - GAT GTC CGT ACG ACT TTA CCT GGT GAA GTG GT - #G AAA GAT GTC GCT TTC           773                                                                        Asp Val Arg Thr Thr Leu Pro Gly Glu Val Va - #l Lys Asp Val Ala Phe                575              - #   580              - #   585                           - - TAT GAT TAT GAT GCA AAA TAC ATC AAT AAC AC - #G ATT GAA ATG CAA ATC           821                                                                        Tyr Asp Tyr Asp Ala Lys Tyr Ile Asn Asn Th - #r Ile Glu Met Gln Ile            590                 5 - #95                 6 - #00                 6 -       #05                                                                               - - CCA GCG CAT GTT CCA GAA GAA GTA GCT CAT CA - #A GCG CAA GAA TAC         GCT      869                                                                     Pro Ala His Val Pro Glu Glu Val Ala His Gl - #n Ala Gln Glu Tyr Ala                           610  - #               615  - #               620               - - AAA AAA GCG TAT ATT ATG TTA GAT GGA AGT GG - #C TTA AGT CGC TGT GAT           917                                                                        Lys Lys Ala Tyr Ile Met Leu Asp Gly Ser Gl - #y Leu Ser Arg Cys Asp                        625      - #           630      - #           635                   - - TTC TTC TTA ACA AGC AAA AAC GAA TTA TTC CT - #G AAT GAA TTG AAC ACC           965                                                                        Phe Phe Leu Thr Ser Lys Asn Glu Leu Phe Le - #u Asn Glu Leu Asn Thr                    640          - #       645          - #       650                       - - ATG CCT GGT TTT ACT GAC TTT AGT ATG TAT CC - #T TTA CTG TGG GAA AAT          1013                                                                        Met Pro Gly Phe Thr Asp Phe Ser Met Tyr Pr - #o Leu Leu Trp Glu Asn                655              - #   660              - #   665                           - - ATG GGC TTG AAA TAC AGT GAT TTA ATT GAG GA - #A CTG ATT CAG TTA GCT          1061                                                                        Met Gly Leu Lys Tyr Ser Asp Leu Ile Glu Gl - #u Leu Ile Gln Leu Ala            670                 6 - #75                 6 - #80                 6 -       #85                                                                               - - TTG AAT CGT TTT AAA TAA         - #                  - #                       - #1079                                                                  Leu Asn Arg Phe Lys                                                                            690                                                             - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:17:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 348 amino - #acids                                                 (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                            - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:17:                               - - Leu Lys Ile Ile Leu Leu Tyr Gly Gly Arg Se - #r Glu Glu His Asp Val         1               5 - #                 10 - #                 15               - - Ser Val Leu Ser Ala Tyr Ser Val Leu Asn Al - #a Ile Tyr Tyr Lys Tyr                    20     - #             25     - #             30                   - - Tyr Gln Val Gln Leu Val Phe Ile Ser Lys As - #p Gly Gln Trp Val Lys                35         - #         40         - #         45                       - - Gly Pro Leu Leu Ser Glu Arg Pro Gln Asn Ly - #s Glu Val Leu His Leu            50             - #     55             - #     60                           - - Thr Trp Ala Gln Thr Pro Glu Glu Thr Gly Gl - #u Phe Ser Gly Lys Arg        65                 - # 70                 - # 75                 - # 80        - - Ile Ser Pro Ser Glu Ile Tyr Glu Glu Glu Al - #a Ile Val Phe Pro Val                        85 - #                 90 - #                 95               - - Leu His Gly Pro Asn Gly Glu Asp Gly Thr Il - #e Gln Gly Phe Met Glu                   100      - #           105      - #           110                   - - Thr Ile Asn Met Pro Tyr Val Gly Ala Gly Va - #l Leu Ala Ser Val Asn               115          - #       120          - #       125                       - - Ala Met Asp Lys Ile Met Thr Lys Tyr Leu Le - #u Gln Thr Val Gly Ile           130              - #   135              - #   140                           - - Pro Gln Val Pro Phe Val Pro Val Leu Arg Se - #r Asp Trp Lys Gly Asn       145                 1 - #50                 1 - #55                 1 -       #60                                                                               - - Pro Lys Glu Val Phe Glu Lys Cys Glu Gly Se - #r Leu Ile Tyr Pro         Val                                                                                              165  - #               170  - #               175              - - Phe Val Lys Pro Ala Asn Met Gly Ser Ser Va - #l Gly Ile Ser Lys Val                   180      - #           185      - #           190                   - - Glu Asn Arg Glu Glu Leu Gln Glu Ala Leu Gl - #u Glu Ala Phe Arg Tyr               195          - #       200          - #       205                       - - Asp Ala Arg Ala Ile Val Glu Gln Gly Ile Gl - #u Ala Arg Glu Ile Glu           210              - #   215              - #   220                           - - Val Ala Ile Leu Gly Asn Glu Asp Val Arg Th - #r Thr Leu Pro Gly Glu       225                 2 - #30                 2 - #35                 2 -       #40                                                                               - - Val Val Lys Asp Val Ala Phe Tyr Asp Tyr As - #p Ala Lys Tyr Ile         Asn                                                                                              245  - #               250  - #               255              - - Asn Thr Ile Glu Met Gln Ile Pro Ala His Va - #l Pro Glu Glu Val Ala                   260      - #           265      - #           270                   - - His Gln Ala Gln Glu Tyr Ala Lys Lys Ala Ty - #r Ile Met Leu Asp Gly               275          - #       280          - #       285                       - - Ser Gly Leu Ser Arg Cys Asp Phe Phe Leu Th - #r Ser Lys Asn Glu Leu           290              - #   295              - #   300                           - - Phe Leu Asn Glu Leu Asn Thr Met Pro Gly Ph - #e Thr Asp Phe Ser Met       305                 3 - #10                 3 - #15                 3 -       #20                                                                               - - Tyr Pro Leu Leu Trp Glu Asn Met Gly Leu Ly - #s Tyr Ser Asp Leu         Ile                                                                                              325  - #               330  - #               335              - - Glu Glu Leu Ile Gln Leu Ala Leu Asn Arg Ph - #e Lys                                   340      - #           345                                        __________________________________________________________________________ 

We claim:
 1. A kit for the in vitro detection of Gram-positive cocci resistant to a glycopeptide, wherein the kit comprises a probe capable of hybridizing under stringent conditions to:(a) a nucleotide sequence encoding a protein comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2, or (b) the complement of a nucleotide sequence encoding a protein comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2.
 2. The kit of claim 1, wherein the probe is DNA or RNA.
 3. The kit of claim 1, wherein the probe comprises the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, or SEQ ID NO:5.
 4. The kit of claim 1 further comprising a DNA polymerase and the nucleoside triphosphates dATP, dCTP, dTTP, and dGTP.
 5. The kit of claim 1, wherein the cocci are enterococci.
 6. The kit of claim 1, wherein the cocci are E. faecium.
 7. The kit of claim 1, wherein the glycopeptide is vancomycin.
 8. The kit of claim 1 further comprising a probe specific for the vanA gene or the vanC gene.
 9. A kit for the in vitro detection of Gram-positive cocci resistant to a glycopeptide, wherein the kit comprises a probe capable of hybridizing under stringent conditions to:(a) a nucleotide sequence comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, or (b) the complement of a nucleotide sequence comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:1.
 10. The kit of claim 9, wherein the probe is DNA or RNA.
 11. The kit of claim 9, wherein the probe comprises the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, or SEQ ID NO:5.
 12. The kit of claim 9 further comprising a DNA polymerase and the nucleoside triphosphates dATP, dCTP, dTTP, and dGTP.
 13. The kit of claim 9, wherein the cocci are enterococci.
 14. The kit of claim 9, wherein the cocci are E. faecium.
 15. The kit of claim 9, wherein the glycopeptide is vancomycin.
 16. The kit of claim 9 further comprising a probe specific for the vanA gene or the vanC gene.
 17. A method for the in vitro detection of Gram-positive cocci resistant to a glycopeptide, wherein the method comprises:(a) mixing a sample and a probe to form a mixture, wherein the probe is capable of hybridizing under stringent conditions to (i) a nucleotide sequence encoding a protein comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2, or (ii) the complement of a nucleotide sequence encoding a protein comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2; (b) subjecting the mixture to conditions sufficient to allow an elongation product of the probe to form; and (c) determining whether or not the elongation product of the probe was formed, thereby detecting a Gram-positive cocci resistant to a glycopeptide if the probe was formed.
 18. The kit of claim 17, wherein the probe comprises the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, or SEQ ID NO:5.
 19. The method of claim 17, wherein the glycopeptide is vancomycin or teicoplanin.
 20. The method of claim 17, wherein the cocci are E. faecium or E.faecalis.
 21. A method for the in vitro detection of Gram-positive cocci resistant to a glycopeptide, wherein the method comprises:(a) mixing a sample and a probe to form a mixture, wherein the probe is capable of hybridizing under stringent conditions to (i) a nucleotide sequence comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, or (ii) the complement of a nucleotide sequence comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:1; (b) subjecting the mixture to conditions sufficient to allow an elongation product of the probe to form; and (c) determining whether or not the elongation product of the probe was formed, thereby detecting a Gram-positive cocci resistant to a glycopeptide if the probe was formed.
 22. The kit of claim 21, wherein the probe comprises the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, or SEQ ID NO:5.
 23. The method of claim 21, wherein the glycopeptide is vancomycin or teicoplanin.
 24. The method of claim 21, wherein the cocci are E. faecium or E. faecalis. 